The Third International Sibelius Singing Competition is to be held in Järvenpää on 19th–25th April 2015. It is open to singers aged 35 or less from countries around the Baltic Sea and there is one single category for men and women. The competitors will sing solo songs by Sibelius and other Lieder with piano accompaniment. The competition also offers a chance to hear some less frequently performed Sibelius songs: the competitors have chosen no fewer than 61 of his songs from 16 different opus groups.
A panel appointed by the Competition Committee has selected 26 singers for the competition: 20 Finns, two Poles, two Estonians, one Swede and one Dane. The official pianists are Kristian Attila, Hans-Otto Ehrström, Tuula Hällström and Ilmari Räikkönen. The five members of the Jury are pianist Gustav Djupsjöbacka, mezzo-soprano Monica Groop, Danish soprano Inger Dam-Jensen, German baritone Andreas Schmidt and Swedish baritone Olle Persson.
First prize is worth €12,000, second prize €6,000 and third prize €3,000. The winner will be invited to appear with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2015/2016 season, and a special prize will be awarded in the form of a Lied recital at the Lahti Sibelius Festival on 6th September 2015.
Yle Radio 1 will be broadcasting the finals of the competition live on Saturday 25th April. The finals will also be streamed live at www.yle.fi/klassinen. Video recordings of the preliminary round and semi-finals will be posted on the competition website during the competition week.
Previous International Sibelius Singing Competitions have been held in 2007 and 2011. The winner of the 2007 competition was mezzo-soprano Annastiina Tahkola, and that of the 2011 competition soprano Hedvig Paulig. The Sibelius Singing Competition is organised by the Järvenpää Sibelius Weeks in partnership with the City of Järvenpää and the Sibelius Academy.
Third International Sibelius Singing Competition at the Järvenpää Hall
Opening ceremony and draw for the order of performance in the Juhani Aho Hall at 19.00 on Sunday 19th April
Preliminary round in the Sibelius Hall at 16.00 and 19.00 on Monday–Wednesday 20th–22nd April
Semi-finals in the Sibelius Hall at 17.00 and 19.00 on Thursday–Friday 23rd–24th April
Finals in the Sibelius Hall at 19.00 on Saturday 25th April
Tickets from Lippupiste outlets
Further information:
Terhi Luukkonen, Secretary General
Tel. +358-40-710 4368
terhi.luukkonen@uniarts.fi
www.sibeliussinging.fi
Source: Press release, 9th April 2015, Third International Sibelius Singing Competition